History comes to life with National History Day. Over 500,000 middle and high school students participate in this exciting contest every year. This interdisciplinary program helps students engage with history while sharpening their analytical and literary skills.

The theme of National History Day 2023 is Frontiers in History: People, Places, Ideas. Students select a topic based on the theme, perform their own research and analysis and draw conclusions about the impact their topic had on events, people and the world.

Virginia History Day is the state affiliate of National History Day.

Questions to consider

• How did the convergence of three cultures (Indigineous Peoples, English, and West Central African, create a new frontier for each?
• What is the legacy of the formation of representative government in 1619 at Jamestown?
• Did events leading up to the American Revolution create a new frontier? And for whom?
• What can the Declaration of Independence tell us about the frontier the Continental Congress hoped to achieve?

These resources will help you get started with some key topics.

Frontiers in History: People, Places, Ideas in Jamestown and Early Colonial Virginia

Frontiers in History: People, Places, Ideas and the American Revolution

For more great resources, visit the Learning Center.

Quick Links

• Virginia History Day
• National History Day
• National History Day Theme Book
• National History Day Contest Rule Book